
Boss Life
Surviving My Own Small Business
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Narrated by:
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Jonathan Hogan
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By:
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Paul Downs
When columnist Paul Downs was approached by the New York Times to write for their You're the Boss blog, he had been running his custom furniture business for 24 years strong - or mostly strong. Now he embarks on a book-length essay that intends to show a portrait of a real business, with a real boss, a real set of employees, and the real challenges they face, in hopes of promoting a better understanding of the behaviors of small-business owners.
In 1986, fresh out of college, Paul Downs opened his first and last business: a small company that built custom furniture. With no idea how to run a business or how to build custom furniture, Downs spent a year teaching himself the business, and in 1987 he hired his first employee. That was when things got complicated.
As his business began to grow, he had to learn about management, cash flow, taxes, and so much more. Furthermore, globalization and the arrival of the Internet made a big impact on the economy, causing him to have to reevaluate, restructure, and reinvent. Most important, Downs is keenly aware that every small business, no matter the product it makes or the service it provides, starts with people. He writes with tremendous insight about hiring employees, providing motivation to get the best jobs out of them and incentive to maintain their loyalty and respect, and the difficult decisions he's made to let some of them go.
With honesty and conviction, Downs tells the true story behind building and sustaining a successful company in an ever-evolving economy, often airing his own failures and shortcomings to unveil the difficulties that arise from being a boss and a businessperson. We've heard countless stories from employees about their managers; Boss Life seeks to tell the other side of that story.
©2015 Paul Downs (P)2015 Recorded BooksListeners also enjoyed...



















Very good story, but...
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Great narration, great story.
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I really enjoyed the book.
Additionally, the narration was really good. I usually only tolerate the reading, but Jonathan Hogan really brought it to life for me.
Great.
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Would you listen to Boss Life again? Why?
Of course I would. Engaging story with a very honest narration. Nothing is left out, sales numbers, home problems, employee issues. If you have ever run a business (19 years for me!), it will bring back memories of how you thought it should be and what it has now become as well as how to think your way out of this. The part of the book that deals with him having 100K in the bank and that would only keep the doors open two weeks is just powerful stuff. It is not a business book per say, but I have learned many lessons for this book. In short.... Loved it and would recommend it to business owners or anyone starting a business.Who was your favorite character and why?
The owner. His completely honest and open story of business and home life.Have you listened to any of Jonathan Hogan’s other performances before? How does this one compare?
I have never had a problem with narrators. I am from central Oklahoma and with my accent, everyone sounds funny.....Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
How he keeps his head when everything is falling down around him.Any additional comments?
Read the book. It is not a "how to" book on business but you learn many important sales and business tips just by following his chain of logic. Loved the book....Heartfelt memoir about real world business.
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Numbers numbers numbers
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Perfect example of common challenges to small business owners
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Gripping, suspenseful. Couldn't put it down
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wow and thank you. Ilike you am a long time small
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Thoroughly enjoyable
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Excellent!
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